781 Best Hotels in Italy

In a 19th-century lakeside palace, Riva's most chic hotel has a high-end spa; sleek public spaces with turquoise mod couches and classic floor-to-ceiling windows; and contemporary guest rooms, where slate floors and brown-and-gray color schemes are offset by crisp white linens. Zefiro, with inspiring lakeside views, serves expertly prepared dishes using local ingredients and has a comprehensive wine list with interesting options from nearby producers; it's open for dinner. A bistro and bar, LIDO, is open for lunch and dinner. Save time for the tranquil 16,000-square-foot spa area with indoor and outdoor heated pools, steam baths, sauna, relaxation room, and a full range of decadent treatments.

Located not far from the port, Lisola Residence offers complete tranquility in the form of charming, adults-only apartments that accommodate either two or four people, each retaining a degree of privacy from its neighbor. The apartments come equipped with air-conditioning, a kitchen with a coffee machine, and a barbecue and garden furniture for cooking and sitting outside. Public areas are scrupulously maintained, especially the lovely, partly paved garden from which views extend over the landscape, and within which nestles a decently sized swimming pool. If you don't want to cover the distance to or from the port, which takes less than 10 minutes on foot, the owners offer a free Jeep service. There's a minimum-stay period, from two nights in low season to a week in peak season.

The idea that the Campanati sisters named the 15 rooms in their renovated 17th-century locanda after the stars and constellations of the highest magnitude in the Northern Hemisphere says something about how personally this place is run. That's a real plus, as is the location on one of the brightest, most tranquil canals in the Dorsoduro area, but only two minutes from the Salute, the Accademia, and the Guggenheim Museum, and also handy to the Zattere promenade. The cheeriest rooms are on the top floor overlooking the canal.

Neatly decorated and light-filled rooms between St. Marks Square and the Rialto Bridge offer guests something rare in Venice—a central yet quiet base from which to explore the city. Five of the seven rooms have their own en-suite bathrooms and air conditioning, two have a shared bathroom and ceiling fan, and a few have canal views. A simple breakfast is served in a cheery breakfast room that overlooks a canal. The hospitable owner is around during the day to answer questions and offer restaurant suggestions; during the night, you are on your own.

Pastel lacquered furnishings and mock-flock wallpaper pay tribute to 18th-century Venetian style in the six bedrooms of this small pensione on a charming Castello campo; ask for one that overlooks the neighborhood life out front. You'll easily spot the canopied entrance, flanked by two topiaries and umbrella-topped café tables where you can take your breakfast or sip a late afternoon Prosecco in the sunshine.

Founded by Giuseppe Cipriani in the late 1920s, this intimate locanda (inn) on the island of Torcello remains in the Cipriani family and retains the simple, classy character of the period. The lovingly furnished rooms have large beds, plush armchairs, vaulted ceilings, and modern amenities—but absolutely no televisions; instead, each room comes with a well-stocked library. The in-house pastry chef provides a fresh breakfast each morning in either the dining room or in the garden under a pergola of roses; guests can also choose to dine at the locanda's excellent restaurant. Ernest Hemingway stayed in one of the comfortable rooms while writing "Across the River and Through the Trees."

Tucked behind Campo San Stefano in a charming little courtyard, this oasis offers small but peaceful rooms decorated in 18th-century Venetian style. Palazzo Grassi, Museo Fortuny, and the Accademia Museum are just steps away; San Marco and Rialto are both about a 15-minute walk. In the warmer months, breakfast is served alfresco amid the flowering garden overlooking Campiello Novo. Discounts are given for payment in cash.

The space for part of this tiny guesthouse has been carved out of the tufa rock beneath the aqueduct at the entrance to the old town. Rooms are small and simply decorated, with painted armoires, floral print chair rails, and wood dressing tables. Only one room, the smallest, has no air-conditioning, and all are immaculately clean. A two-bedroom apartment with private terrace is available for minimum three-night stays.

You'll find enough classic Venetian characteristics to remind you of where you are, but not so many as to be stuffy or ostentatious. The homey yet elegant feel is accentuated by period furniture, parquet and Venetian terrazzo flooring, and tall windows, some of which open onto small balconies (ask for a room with a canal view). While you're not "steps from San Marco," you are still handy to some major tourist attractions, in addition to the characteristic shopping, eateries, and residential ambience in San Polo and Santa Croce. Service is personal, thorough, and thoughtful. There's no elevator, but all rooms are on one level, one flight up.

This boutique property inside the former residence of opera composer Gaetano Donizetto aims to be a restaurant with rooms above rather than a hotel with a restaurant below. In fact, you have to walk through the restaurant to check in at the reception desk. The design is inspired by English colonial clubhouses, with plush banquettes and gallery walls featuring Old Master–style paintings with a humorous twist. Rooms have plush beds with oversize headboards, bold colors, and luxe marble bathrooms.

Down a narrow lane near the castello, you'll find these four good-value, simply furnished apartments of various sizes with kitchenettes. Choose from two small studios, which share a cute rooftop terrace, a more spacious split-level one-bedroom, or the two-level family affair with a spare sofa bed. 

Opened in 2018, this well-run B&B, in a striking burnished yellow and Pompeiian red stile liberty palazzo, has spacious, high-ceilinged, whitewashed rooms with azure tiles; the two doubles have garden views, and the cavernous three-person room has a mezzanine with an extra bed.

Inside this faithfully restored palazzo dating from the early 1900s, spaciousness is accentuated with soft white interiors, muted fabrics and marble, and contemporary lines. An understated entrance leads into what seems more like a sophisticated, upscale residence than a hotel—which is precisely the feeling the designers were striving for. Massive mirrors don't hang, they lean; baths are almost as spacious as the living areas; a refined hush prevails. Though there's no restaurant or breakfast room, if you wish you can dine in privacy with room service for breakfast (for an extra fee).

Up a narrow calle and across the bridge from the bustling Strada Nova, this 15th-century palazzo sits by a tranquil canal and an evocative little campo; inside you'll find traditional Venetian decor and guest rooms featuring silk damasks tufted onto multiwindowed walls. Standout options include a suite with a columned balcony overlooking the Priuli Canal, or the hideaway attic mansarda, with sloping ceilings and a rooftop view from several windows.

The first luxury hotel built on the Via Veneto, in 1889, the luxurious Majestic was long a favorite among Roman nobility and high society (it served as a backdrop in Fellini's La Dolce Vita). Today, the Majestic holds onto its grand old-world splendor with luxurious art deco furnishings, spacious rooms, up-to-date accessories, and white marble bathrooms. The wonderful restaurant with a Sicilian menu and bar has a delightful terrace that overlooks the Via Veneto and excellent people-watching potential.

Right in front of the Plan de Corones chairlift, this is a great base for a skiing or hiking vacation, with bus service to the ski slopes and a spa and pools on-site to unwind after a big day out. The hotel can help to arrange discounted ski passes with advance notice. In the warmer months, staff can help you find the best hiking in the area; the hotel even has its own guides. The decor is typical of the region, with warm wood and fabrics, and plenty of amenities. Some rates include breakfast and dinner, which are rotated regularly for variety, and discounts are offered for stays longer than four nights.

The nine 19th-century villas that comprise this Lake Como outpost of the extravagant Mandarin chain have been thoroughly updated for the 21st century, offering a quiet setting (just north of the busy town of Como) and luxurious amenities that include a 14,000-square-foot spa and a swimming pool that "floats" above the lake. Public areas, guest rooms, and suites have beautiful lake views; some accommodations also feature floor-to-ceiling windows and private terraces or gardens. Dining options include the lakefront L˜ARIA restaurant, which serves Mediterranean cuisine, and the more casual CO.MO Bar & Bistrot. There's a car service available from the hotel to Como town and other destinations (for a fee), though it's first come, first served; since taxis on the lake are in limited supply, it's best to have your own car if you plan to explore the rest of the lake.

You can do your sightseeing from the rooftop terrace of the Marcella, a midsize hotel with the feel of a smaller, more intimate establishment, where staff go the extra mile to make your stay pleasant. Many rooms also have good views, and all are decorated in tasteful color schemes, some with floral prints and mirrored walls. The spacious suites are ideal for families. The hotel is 10 minutes from Via Veneto and Termini Station.

This central downtown hotel has a reassuringly old-fashioned style, with its grand, columned exterior and elegant neoclassical lobby hung with chandeliers. The staff are professional but friendly, while the well-kept, comfortable rooms have lovely wood or marble floors, solid wood furniture, striped bedding, and efficient bathrooms. There's an internal garden, and the hotel's brick-vaulted Blao restaurant pulls in the locals.

Not only is this handsome hotel at the top of Via Veneto and next to the Villa Borghese park something of a beacon on the Rome landscape, but its guest rooms are among the largest in the city. The design of the rooms feels distinguished, and many face the enchanting gardens of the Villa Borghese, including the suites, each of which is unique and has carefully chosen antiques. On-site amenities include a fitness center and a lovely rooftop restaurant.

Up on the Hyblean plateau, a good 15-minute drive north of Noto, this rural masseria (farm) is surrounded by tastefully designed two-story lodgings and immersed in olive groves. Though it's close to Noto Antica and some fabulous hiking, you could be forgiven for spending your day drifting between the pool, bar, and restaurant.

Beautifully restored, with high-style interiors, this 19th-century former masseria is an oasis of comfort just a short drive from lovely Otranto. In its long history, the building has also served as a monastery, herbal pharmacy, discotheque, and restaurant. Now it offers whitewashed Mediterranean minimalist chic, with wrought-iron beds, arched ceilings, gorgeous stone-and-marble bathrooms, and flowing white drapes—and the lobby looks like something out of a magazine. Much of the delicious food is plucked from the hotel's own garden, which includes dozens of fruit trees, and lunch can be taken poolside.

Small and select, this hotel enjoys one of Palermo's best locations—opposite the Teatro Massimo, on the border of the old and new towns—and has guest rooms that are spacious, comfortably furnished, and well insulated from the noise on pedestrianized Via Maqueda. The service is personal and polite, with breakfast served in your room or in the lounge, which has limited capacity. Book in advance for one of the seven rooms that have theater views.

Though given a stylish modern makeover, the courtyards, vaulted brick lobby, and breakfast room of this 15th-century palazzo retain much of their lordly Renaissance flair. Guest rooms are a little more down-to-earth, but standard doubles and some of the enormous bi- and tri-level suites have dark wooden floors, exposed roof beams, and cozy antique furniture. Top-floor rooms and suites—some with terraces—are roomy and especially good for families. Everything here, including room service, is impeccable. The location is quiet but fairly convenient.

This outpost of the Spanish hotel brand ME by Meliá has a lively party atmosphere, with rousing music playing in the lobby, a design-conscious vibe, and a happening rooftop bar with panoramic city views. Rooms have a dark and moody feel, done up in browns and neutral colors and hung with oversized arty photographs. The hotel includes modern steak house STK restaurant, complete with its own DJ after 10 pm, while Radio Rooftop Bar is the perfect place for an aperitivo while mingling with a fashionable crowd.

This goal of this hotel, opened in 1924, is to relax the body and the spirit—and it certainly makes a smashing effort by offering year-round outdoor pools, an indoor pool, a delightful spa, and beautiful park surroundings. You can stay in a traditional room, a luxury suite, or even in the unique tree-house room. They also run the nearby San Luis Retreat Hotel & Lodges, with chalets and 16 tree houses.

Modern, bright, and sleekly decorated guest rooms and the on-site gourmet restaurant add allure to this five-star chain hotel in the modern part of the city. The wide variety of amenities includes plasma TVs and some Jacuzzi tubs, but all of this chic luxury is relatively inexpensive for hotels in the area. Breakfast can be omitted from your booking, if preferred.

Set in a restored 19th-century palazzo, this Bergamo Basso hotel has modern comforts and a friendly, efficient staff, making it a good choice for both business and leisure travelers. Although rooms can be a bit dark, they're quite spacious, and some have views of the old town.

Right off Piazza Municipio, in the shadows of Castel Nuovo, this popular hotel is a good choice if you're taking a boat from Molo Beverello. The lobby is sober yet luminous, and the rooms are quiet and tastefully appointed. Breakfast is served on a delightful third-floor terrace with views over the castle.

Atmosphere prevails in this labyrinth of opulent, intimate spaces featuring classic Venetian decor combined with Eastern influences: common areas and guest rooms are filled with an assortment of antiques and curiosities. The best rooms are up on the roof, where there are also two spacious terraces. Suites feature sparkling mosaic sunken baths, Fortuny fabrics, and other notable architectural details.